This scene was simultaneously duplicated at junior and senior high school's
across America. It was not a student protest nor a display of fisticuffs
that evoked this gathering. There was no rap or pop group performing an
early morning concert either. What could cause hundreds of thousands of
pubescent teens to throng their flagpoles before school begins? Prayer.
Yes, prayer!

See You At The Poles is an organized prayer meeting conducted by youth
leaders rallied around American High School flagpoles. SYATP takes place
annually the third Wednesday in September. It was begun as a prayer meeting
of several Texas high school students in early 1990. The word spread abroad
and this evangelism challenge was accepted first by teens throughout the
great state of Texas that following September. Each year since its inception,
the prayer groups have increased to include more than one million students.

America's youth fill the late summer days leading to the annual pilgrimage
with discussions of new teachers, classes, clothes, fads, friends, and
prayer. These young adults become, if at no other time, disciples for Christ.
They evangelize to their peers of the peace and power available to them
through prayer.

During the weeks surrounding this event, high school hallways, cafeterias
and buses are abuzz with personal testimonies, and encouragement for others
to join these veterans and partake of our privilege and First Amendment
right to Freedom of Religion, Speech ? and Rights of Assembly and
Petition established by our Constitution. Brian McNair, of Twinsburg's
R. B. Chamberlin High School, elaborates. "Each year after "See You At
The Poles" students seem to stop doing some things they know they
shouldn't do, at least for a while. It's really encouraging to attend
because people will say that your prayer was really nice. It really inspired
me."

For SYATP '97 Kenston High schoolers in Chagrin Falls assembled under
the direction of Paul Reed. "This year's rally (of approximately thirty
students) was a lot larger than last year's. It was a really good
turnout for our school." States Ebony Huckabee, a Kenston senior
and prayer leader for SYATP '96 and '97. Miss Huckabee continues, "God
really moved toward the end. You could tell the differences in the prayers
of different denominations. Everyone was free to worship in their own way.
God really blessed." The anointing of God was tangible. It was evident
on the crowd's tear streaked faces as Miss Huckabee closed out See You
At The Poles '97 by leading the worship song "I Will Do A New Thing In
You"
.
The Baby Boomers have branded their children the "X-Generation".
Baby Boomers, wake up! For a growing remnant, that "X" is not
the brand of the unknown, but the emblem of an extraordinary generation
destined and preparing to do exploits in Jesus' Name! Our youth
are learning to do battle in the Spirit by sharpening their weapon of prayer.
Is there hope for our country, our future? Certainly. As promised inII Chronicles 7:14 KJV, "If my people pray, and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and forgive their
sin, and will heal their land," saith the Lord.

For the many faithful teens who stood for Christ praying alone
at their schools this year, Be Encouraged! Your labor is not in vain in
the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58) This remnant of power-packed teens is an
awesome example even to we war-wearied adults. Keep Praying!! We will See
You At The Poles next year.